Debates in the Federal Convention, from Tuesday, August 7, 1787 until its final adjournment, Monday, September 17, 1787

point a Vice President, and he and the President to be chosen by
Electors appointed in such manner as the State Legislatures may
direct; if not chosen by a majority of the Electors to be balloted for

by the Senate from the five highest--Postponed.

WEDNESDAY, September 5th

1494

Article seventh, relative to the powers of the Legislature, resumed

- Motion that they may grant letters of marque-Agreed to-Not

make army appropriations for more than two years--Agreed to-
Hare exclusive jurisdiction in the district ceded for the seat of gov-
ernment, and for other purposes with the consent of the State Leg.
islatures-Agreed to—Grant patents and copyrights--Agreed to.

Article tenth, relative to the Executive, resumed-Motion that
in case of failure of the Electors to elect, the choice shall be by the
Legislature-Disagreed to-Motion not to require a majority of
the Electors but one third to choose a President-Disagreed to--
Motion that the choice of the Senate be limited to the three high-

est-Disagreed to—To the thirteen highest-Disagreed to.

THURSDAY, September 6th

1503

Article tenth, relative to the Executive, resumed-Motion to ex-

clude members of the Legislature, and public officers from being

Electors—Agreed to-Motions to extend the Executive term to

seven and six years—Disagreed to-Motion to elect the Executive

by Electors-Agreed to--Motion that the election be at the seat

of Government-Disagreed to—On the same day throughout the

Union-Agreed to-Motion to refer it to the Senate, two thirds

being present, if not made by the Electors-Agreed 10-Motion to

refer it to the House of Representatives, two thirds of the States

being present, and each State to have one vote-Agreed to.

Friday, September 7th

1514

Article tenth, relative to the Executive, resumed—Motion to leave

to the Legislature to declare the Executive officer in case of death,

&c. of President and Vice President, until a new election-Agreed

to-Motion that the President be a natural born citizen, and thirty-

five years of age-Agreed to-Motion that the Vice President be

President of the Senate--Agreed to--Motion to unite House of

Representatives in the treaty power-Disagreed to-Motion to

give the Executive and Senate the appointing power-Agreed to

-Motion to allow treaties of peace to be made by the Executive

and a majority of the Senate-Agreed to-Motion to allow two

thirds of the Senate to make treaties of peace without the Execu-

live—Disagreed to-Motion to appoint an Executive Council-

Disagreed to.

SATURDAY, September 8th

1524

Article tenth, relative to the Executive, resumed-Motion to re-

quire treaties of peace to be consented to by two thirds of the Sen-

ate-Agreed to-Motion to require that in such cases two thirds

of all the members be required-Disagreed to-Motion to extend

impeachment to high crimes and misdemeanors-Agreed to-Mo-

tion to withdraw trial of impeachment from the Senate-Disa-

greed to.

Article fourth, relative to the House of Representatives, resum-

ed-Motion that it must originate, but Senate may amend, money

bills–Agreed to.

Article tenth, relative to the Executive, resumed—Motion that

he may convene both or either House-Agreed to.

All the Articles as amended and agreed to, referred to a Com-

mittee of Revision.

Monday, September 10th

1533

Article nineteenth, relative to amendments of the Constitution, re-

sumed— Motion that Legislature may propose amendments, to be

binding when assented to by three fourths of the States-Agreed to.

Article twenty-first, relative to the number of States necessary

for a ratification of the Constitution—Motion to require the assent

of the present Congress, before submitting it to the States for rati-

fication-Disagreed to.

Article twenty-second, relative to the mode of ratifying the Con-

stitution-Motion to require the assent of the present Congress-
Disagreed to-Motion to submit the Constitution after it is acted
on by the State Conventions, to a second Federal Convention-
Postponed-Motion that an address to the States accompany the

Constitution, when transmitted for ratification-Agreed to.

WEDNESDAY, September 12th

1543

The Constitution as reported by the Committee of Revision, con-

sidered.

Article first, relative to the Legislative power—Motion to re-

quire two thirds instead of three fourths to overrule the negative

of the President-Agreed to.

Motion to add a bill of rights-Disagreed to.

THURSDAY, September 13th

1568

Motion for a Committee to report articles of association for en-

couraging, by the influence of the Convention, economy, frugality,

and American manufactures–Agreed to.

Article first, relative to the Legislative power, resumed-Motion

to permit the States to impose such duties on exports as are neces-
sary to execute their inspection laws-Agreed to.

Resolutions directing the mode of proceeding in the present Con.

gress to submit the Constitution to the States.

FRIDAY, September 14th

1571

Article first, relative to the Legislative powers, resumed-Motion

to change the present proportion of members in the House of Rep-

resentatives-Disagreed to-Motion that officers impeached be sus-

pended till trial—Disagreed to-Motion to require the House of

Representatives to publish all its proceedings—Disagreed to-Mo-

tion that Treasurer be appoinied as other officers“Agreed to

Motion to provide for cutting canals and granting charters of in-

corporation, where the States may be incompetent-Disagreed to

-To establish a university-Disagreed to— To provide for the

preservation of the liberty of the press—Disagreed to To publish

the expenditures-Agreed to.

SATURDAY, September 15th

1582

Article first, relative to the Legislative powers, resumed--Motion

to change the present proportion of members in the House of Rep-

resentatives—Disagreed to-Motion that the inspection laws of

the States may be revised by Congress—Agreed to-Motion that

no State shall lay a duty on tonnage, without assent of Congress

-Agreed to.

Article second, relative to the Executive-Motion that Presi-

dent shall receive no emolument from the States during his term
-Agreed to-Motion to deprive the President of the power to
pardon treason-Disagreed to—Motion that appointments to infe-
rior offices may be vested by law-Agreed to.

Article third, relative to the Judiciary-Motion to provide for
trial by jury in civil cases-Disagreed 10.

Article fifth, relative to amendments of the Constitution—Mo
tion to require Congress to call a Convention on an application of
two thirds of the States--Agreed to.

Article first, relative to the Legislative power, resumed-Motion
to guarantee to the States an equal representation in the Senate
-Agreed to-Motion to forbid the passage of a navigation act be-
fore 1808, without two thirds of each House-Disagreed to.